Circuit controller



1954 R. H. WILLIAMS, JR 2,695,339

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed March 30, 1951 nsulazton INVENTOR. Ribbard Williamsfi:

fIIS A ITORIVEY United States Patent Ofilice Patented Nov. 23, 1954 CIRCUH CONTROLLER Richard H. Williams, In, inghouse Air Brake sylvania Edgewood, Pa., assignor to West- Company, a corporation of Penn- Application March 30, 1951, erial No. 218,296 7 Claims. (Cl. 2001) the line circuits for faults or grounded conditions to insure the proper operation of a signaling system. The ground detecting apparatus described in an application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 119,399, filed by George W. Baughman on October 4, 1949 provides three circuit controllers, two of the circuit controllers being connected into the line circuits of the signaling system for testing the grounded condition of the individual lines, while the third circuit controller is connected into the control circuit of the apparatus for energizing the circuit preparatory to the testing of the line circuits or after a grounded condition has occurred. It is desirable to combine the three circuit controllers in a single unit for mounting on a panel, and to actuate the individual circuit controllers by a single operating knob movable from a neutral or non-actuating position into three distinct actuating postions, the operating knob being antomatically returned to its neutral position from any of the three actuating positions upon release of the operating knob, and so arranged that it cannot be in any two of the actuating positions simultaneously. One object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved circuit controller unit for achieving these results.

Another object of my invention is to provide a circuit controller of the character indicated which requires a minimum of space and which can be constructed at a minimum cost, but which at the same time is readily accessible and has a construction which insures reliability of operation.

According to my invention, the circuit controller is provided with a single cam which is rotatable by an associated operating knob to different positions corresponding to the different controller positions, and which is also axially movable by the knob between two positions. The cam is biased to one axial position, and cooperates with one group of contacts which are operated when the cam is moved axially to its other position, and with other contacts which are selectively operated in accordance with the position to which the cam is rotated. The cam is returned to its neutral or non-actuating position from either its axial or angular positions by return springs. A latch plate cooperating with the cam acts to prevent rotation of the cam when the cam is in its axial actuating position and also prevents the axial movement of the cam when the cam is in either of its two rotated positions.

Other objects and characteristic features of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

I shall describe one form of a circuit controller embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 are top plan and side elevational views, respectively, showing a circuit controller embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 1, a portion of which is broken away to better illustrate the details of construction.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line lVlV of Fig. 2, while Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the operation of the circuit controller contacts when the operating knob is rotated in a counterclockwise direction from its non-actuating position.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring to the drawings, a circuit controller embodying my invention is here shown as comprising a U- shaped supporting bracket 1 having two spaced vertical portions 1a and 1b, and an intermediate connecting portion 10. The vertical portion 1a is provided with a hole 1d which aligns axially with a hole 1e formed in the vertical portion 1b, and has associated with the rear face thereof a lock plate 2. The lock plate 2 is provided with a threaded hole 2a which forms a continuation of the hole 1d, and screwed into the hole 2a is a bushing 3 (Fig. 3) which serves to clamp the vertical portion 1a of the bracket to a mounting panel 4. The bushing 3 extends with clearance through a hole 4a formed in the mounting panel and is provided on the outside of the panel with a non-circular annular flange 3.: to facilitate screwing the bushing in place, the flange 3a forming a shoulder which engages the outer face of the mounting panel. The inner end of the bushing 3 forms a bearing surface for an operating cam, as will hereinafter appear.

Extending through the bushing 3 with considerable clearance is an operating rod 5, the outer end of which is provided with an operating knob 6, and the inner end of which is provided with an internally screw-threaded squared portion 5a (Fig. 3). The squared portion 5a fits snugly within a squared recess 7a provided in an operating cam 7, and is secured within the recess by means of a spring rod 8. The operating cam 7' is of in sulating material and has molded therein a bushing 7b. The spring rod 8 is slidably mounted at one end in the opening 16 in the supporting bracket 1, and is provided at its other end with a threaded portion 8a of reduced diameter which forms a shoulder 8b. The portion tin extends through the bushing 7b and is screwed into the squared portion of the operating rod to clamp the cam 7 between the inner end of the operating rod and the shoulder 81). A lock Washer 9 is provided on the spring rod between the cam and the shoulder 8b to lock the parts in their assembled relation, and a squared portion 80 is formed on the outer end of the spring rod to facilitate screwing the spring rod into the operating rod.

The operating knob 6 may be secured to the operating rod in any suitable manner but is preferably molded onto the operating rod.

The cam 7 is intended to be rotated by the operating knob 6 between an intermediate or central position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a counterclockwise extreme position, as illustrated in Fig. 5, in which a stop surface '70 formed on one Wing 7d of the cam engages the top of the portion 10 of the bracket 1, and a clockwise extreme position, as viewed in Fig. 5, in which a stop surface 7e formed on another wing 7] disposed opposite the first mentioned wing engages the top of the portion 1c of the bracket 1. The cam 7 is also intended to be moved axially inwardly by the operating knob 6, in opposition to the bias of a spring 10, from an outer position in which the cam 7 engages the inner end of the bushing 3 to an inner position in which the operating knob 6 engages the outer end of the bushing 3. The biasing spring 10 surrounds the spring rod 8 between the washing 9 and the upstanding portion 15 of the bracket 1.

Riveted to the top surface of the intermediate connecting portion 10 of the mounting bracket are two return springs 11 and 12, each of the return springs comprising a pair of adjacent flat springs bent in a U-shape, and an interlock plate 13; the riveted ends of the two return springs being interposed between the interlock plate and the intermediate connecting portion 10. The interlock plate 13 comprises a flat portion 13a transversely of the intermediate connecting portion of the bracket and offset rearwardly with respect to the cam 7 as seen in Fig. 2 and two upturned return bent ends 13b (only one illustrated in Fig. 2). The bent stops for the springs 11 and referred to as such.

The free ends of the two return springs 11 and 12 are biased downwardly and engage the upper surfaces of the wings 7d and 7 of the cam member, the spring stops being being ends serve as spring 12 and will hereinafter be so adjusted that the downward movement of the spring ends is limited to a position in which the cam wings 7d and 7 are maintained in a horizontal plane. Rotation of the operating knob 6 will raise one or the other of the cam wings id or 7 to thereby increase the bias exerted by the associated return spring, the release of the operat ing knob permitting the return spring whose bias has been increased to return the cam 7 to its intermediate position.

Two thin springs are used for each of the return springs 11 and 12 in preference to a single flat spring to insure a resilient bias for the return of the cam 7 to its nonactuating position without the stiffness which would be present were a single spring to be used. It will be further appreciated that the cooperation of the return springs 11 and 12 with the cam wings in no way interferes with the inward movement of the control knob. The cam wings 7d and 71 move partially out from under the ends of the return springs 11 and 12, the spring stops 13b maintaining the spring ends in the positions illustrated so that the coil spring may return the cam 7 to its initial position upon release of the operating knob.

The circuit controller further comprises three contacts C1, C2 and C3, the contact C2 being disposed directly above the spring rod 8 while the remaining contacts C1 and C3 are disposed on opposite sides of the contact C2. It will be noted in Figs. 2., 4 and 5 that the contacts C1 and C3 are in the same plane below the plane of the contact C2. The three contacts are alike and each comprises a movable contact finger 14 and a fixed contact finger 15, the ends of which are clamped between insulating blocks 16. The insulating blocks are secured by insulated screws 17 and clamp plates 17a to the rearwardly extending, horizontal leg of an insulating L-shaped bracket 18, the bracket being secured to the vertical portion 1b by screws 19. The contact C2 is provided with an underlying spring finger 20 formed with a downwardly projecting return bend 2011 which cooperates with the cam 7. Fixed to the ends of each of the movable contact fingers 14% are dependent insulating buttons 21, the insulating button for the contact C2 engaging the top surface of the spring finger 20. The movable contact fingers 14 are biased by their own resilience to lower or open positions in which the contacts C1, C2 and C3 are open. The downward bias of the movable contact fingers 14 of the contacts C1 and C3 is limited by stops 22 of relatively stifif metal clamped in the blocks 16, the downward bias of the contact finger 14 of contact C2 being limited by the spring finger 20 abutting the cam 7. The fixed contact fingers of the three contacts are similarly provided with stiff metal stops 23. It will be noted in Figs. 2, and 5 that the insulating buttons 21 on the movable contact fingers 14 of contacts C1 and C3 are aligned with and above the U-shaped return springs, the stops 22 limiting the downward movement of the movable contact fingers.

The dependent insulating button 21 on the movable contact finger 14 of the contact C2 engages the top sur face of the spring finger 20. The dependent bent portion 26a of the finger cooperates with the cam 7 at a central curved portion having an inclined cam face 7g disposed between high and low positions 7h and 7i. When the operating knob 6 occupies its outer position, the dependent bent portion a of the spring finger 20 engages the low portion 71' and under these conditions the contact C2 is open. When, however, the operating knob is pushed inwardly to its inner position, the portion 20a of the spring finger then rides up over the inclined cam face 7g onto the high portion 7h, which forces the spring finger 20 upwardly to move the contact finger 14 into engagement with the finger 15 to thereby close the contact C2. The release of the operating knob will permit the coil spring 10 to return the cam and knob to its outer position to permit the contact C2 to open.

The dependent insulating buttons 21 on the movable contact fingers 14- of the contacts C1 and C3 are engaged by the return springs 11 and 12, respectively, when the operating knob is rotated. The rotation of the operating knob in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction will rotate the cam 7 so that either the wing 7d or the wing 71 of the cam will lift the associated return spring to bring the spring into engagement with the buttons, thereby lifting the contact fingers 14 into engagement with their respective contact fingers 15 to close the respective contacts C1 or C3.

The operation of the circuit controller is such that when the contact C1 or C3 is closed by rotation of the operat ing knob 6 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the interlock plate 13 prevents the operating knob from being pushed inwardly due to the abutment of the inner edges of the stop surfaces 70 or 72 against the interlock plate. When the contact C2 is closed by the insertion of the operating knob 6, the contacts C1 and C3 cannot be operated by the rotation of the operating knob due to the abutment of the lower surface 71' against the upper surface of the interlock plate portion 13a.

The circuit controller described hereinabove in addition to the advantages of simplicity in manufacturing and each of operation, insures the positive actuation of a single contact at any given time, an attempt to actuate more than one contact being forestalled by the interlock plate.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of circuit controller embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A circuit controller comprising a cam movable axially between first and second positions and rotatable between two angular positions, an operating member connected with said cam for moving said cam, resilient means biasing said cam to a position intermediate said two angular positions, resilient means biasing said cam to said first axial position, an interlock plate cooperating with said cam, a stop surface on said cam for abutting said plate when said cam is in its second axial position and rotated to prevent rotation of said cam, stops on said cam for abutting said plate when said cam is in one of its angular positions and axially moved to prevent axial movement of said cam, and electrical contacts selectively controlled by said cam in accordance with its position.

2. A circuit controller comprising a cam movable axially between first and second positions and rotatable between two angular positions, an operating member connected with said cam for moving said cam, oppositely extending surfaces on said cam, resilient means cooperating with each of said oppositely extending surfaces on said cam to bias said cam to a position intermediate said two angular positions, resilient means biasing said cam to said first axial position, an interlock plate cooperating with said cam, a stop surface on said cam for abutting said plate when said cam is in its second axial position and rotated to prevent rotation of said cam, stops on said cam for abutting said plate when said cam is in one of its angular positions and axially moved to prevent axial movement of said cam, and electrical contacts selectively controlled by said cam in accordance with its position.

3. A circuit controller comprising a cam movable axially between first and second positions and rotatable between two angular positions, an operating member connected with said cam for moving said cam, oppositely extending surfaces on said cam, resilient means cooperating with each of said oppositely extending surfaces on said cam to bias said cam to a position intermediate said two angular positions, said resilient means comprising two coextensive, adjacent, flat springs bent substantially U-shaped for each of said extending cam surfaces, the one end of each pair of springs being held stationary, the other end of each pair of springs cooperating with the respective extending cam surface; spring stops for said other end of each pair of springs for limiting the biasing of said cam by each of said pair of springs to said intermediate position, resilient means biasing said cam to said first axial position, an interlock plate cooperatng with said cam to prevent axial movement of said cam when said cam is in one of its angular positions and to prevent rotation of said cam when said cam is in its second axial position, and electrical contacts selectively controlled by said cam in accordance with its position.

4. A circuit controller comprising a cam movable axially between first and second positions and rotatable between two angular positions, an operating member connected with said cam for moving said cam, an interlock plate cooperating with said cam, a stop surface on said cam for abutting said plate when said cam is in its second axial position and rotated to prevent rotation of said cam, stops on said cam for abutting said plate when said cam is in one of its angular positions and axially moved to prevent axial movement of said cam, oppositely extending surfaces on said cam; a pair of coextensive, adjacent,

fiat springs bent substantially U-shaped for each of said extending cam surfaces, one end of each pair of springs being secured by said interlock plate, the other end of each pair of springs cooperating with its respective extending cam surface for biasing said cam to a position intermediate said angular positions; spring stops for each of said pair of springs formed on said interlock plate for limiting the biasing of said said intermediate position, resilient means biasing said cam to said first axial position, and electrical contacts selectively controlled by said cam in accordance with its position.

5. A circuit controller comprising a cam movable axially between first and second positions and rotatable between two angular positions, an operating member connected with said cam for moving said cam, an interlock plate cooperating with said cam, a stop surface on said cam for abutting said plate when said cam is in its second axial position and rotated to prevent rotation of said cam, stops on said cam for abutting said plate when said cam is in one of its angular positions and axially moved to prevent axial movement of said cam, oppositely extending surfaces on said cam; a pair of coextensive, adjacent, flat springs bent substantially U-shaped for each of said extending cam surfaces, one end of each pair of springs being secured by said interlock plate, the other end of each pair of springs cooperating with its respective extending cam surface for biasing said cam to a position intermediate said angular positions; spring stops for each springs to said intermediate position; the rotation of said cam by said operating member to one of its angular positions biasing one of said pair of springs away from its associated stop, the increased bias of said pair of springs returning said cam to its intermediate position upon release of said operating member, a set of electrical contacts associated with each pair of springs, an abutment for each set of contacts adapted to be engaged by the associated pair of springs when biased by the rotation of said cam to actuate the associated set of contacts, resilient means biasing said cam to said first axial position, and a third set of electrical contacts associated with said cam and actuated when said cam is moved to its second axial position.

6. A circuit controller comprising a cam movable axially between first and second positions and rotatable between two angular positions, an operating member connected with said cam for moving said cam, an interlock plate cooperating with said ment of said cam by said operating member when said cam is in one of its angular positions and to prevent cam to prevent axial moverotation of said cam by said operating member when said cam is 111 its second axial position, oppositely extending surfaces on said cam, resilient means cooperating abutment for each set of contacts adapted to be moved by the associated resilient means when biased by the rotation of said cam to actuate the associated set of contacts, resilient means for biasing said cam to said first axial position, and a third set of electrical contacts associated with said cam and actuated by said cam in its second axial position.

7. A circuit controller comprising a cam movable axibetween first and of said extending cam surfaces, one end of each pair of springs being securely held, the other end of each pair of springs cooperating with its respective extending cam for biasing said cam to a position intermediate angular positions biasing one from its associated stop, the increased bias of said pair of springs returning said cam to its intermediate position upon release of said operating member, a set of electrical contacts associated with each pair of springs, an abutment for each set of contacts adapted to be engaged by the associated pair of springs when biased by the rotation of said cam to actuate the associated set of contacts, resilient means biasing said cam to said first axial position, and a third set of electrical contacts associated with said cam and actuated when said cam is moved to its second axial position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,806,831 Simmen May 26, 1931 2,289,736 Snavely et al. July 14, 1942 2,305,185 Merkel Dec. 15, 1942 

